Opponent dossier: World Cup history of Honduras

The Caltex Socceroos will face Honduras next month for a place at Russia 2018.

Australia will be aiming for a fifth World Cup appearance, while it would be a fourth World Cup for Honduras.

But how have Australia's intercontinental playoff opponents fared at previous tournaments?

SPAIN 1982

In their first appearance on football's biggest stage, Honduras acquitted themselves well after being drawn into a tough group.

Their opening match was against the hosts in Valencia and the CONCACAF debutants stunned the home crowd with Hector Zelaya scoring his nation's historic first World Cup goal after just eight minutes.

But Spain equalised in the second half to deny Honduras a famous victory.

Next up were Northern Ireland who took the lead through Gerry Armstrong after just ten minutes before substitute Eduardo Laing headed home the equaliser just two minutes after being introduced on the hour.

That left Honduras needing to beat Yugoslavia in their final group game to progress, but a late penalty dashed their hopes – if not their pride – after an impressive World Cup debut.

SOUTH AFRICA 2010

After a 28-year absence, Honduras returned to the World Cup but suffered the ignominy of failing to score in their three group games.

A first-up 1-0 defeat by Chile in Nelspruit was followed by a 2-0 loss to eventual winners Spain in Johannesburg with David Villa nabbing a brace.

The Hondurans at least came away with a point in their last match, holding Switzerland to a goal-less draw in Bloemfontein, which also ended the Swiss campaign.

BRAZIL 2014

Having qualified for back-to-back World Cups, Honduras again failed to fire on the big stage, losing all three of their group games.

A first-half red card to influential midfielder Wilson Palacios saw them fall to a first-up 3-0 defeat to France with all three goals coming after they were reduced to ten men.

Things looked brighter when Honduras took the lead in their second game against Ecuador, Carlo Costly scoring his country's first World Cup goal for 32 years.

It wasn't enough though with West Ham United forward Enner Valencia scoring twice to consign the Hondurans to a 2-1 defeat.

In their final match, Honduras were on the receiving end of a Xherdan Shaqiri masterclass, the Swiss attacker scoring the World Cup's 50th hat-trick in his side's 3-0 win.

The loss meant Honduras have played nine World Cup matches without a win, more than any other country.